Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Severe disorders of the mother–infant relationship: definitions and frequency

  • Original contribution
  • Published:
Archives of Women's Mental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We assessed the frequency of severe disorders of the mother–infant relationship in over 200 mothers referred to services in Birmingham and Christchurch, all of whom were interviewed using the Birmingham Interview for Maternal Mental Health. 10.6% had established rejection and 14.6% threatened rejection of their infants. 28.6% had various degrees of pathological anger, which was severe in 8.3%. Rejection was strongly associated with unwanted pregnancy and lack of interaction with the foetus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • MDS Ainsworth SM Bell DJ Stayton (1972) ArticleTitleIndividual differences in the development of some attachment behaviours Merrill Palmer Quart 18 123–143

    Google Scholar 

  • MDS Ainsworth MC Blehar E Waters S Wall (1978) Patterns of Attachment: a Psychological Study of the Strange Situation Erlbaum, Hillsdale New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn, American Psychiatric Association, Washington DC, pp 116–118, and 681.

  • P Boileau de Castélnau (1861) ArticleTitleMisopédie ou lésion de l’amour de la progéniture Ann Médico-psychologiques 3rd series 7 553–568

    Google Scholar 

  • W Bor PA Brennan GM Williams JM Najman M O’Callaghan (2003) ArticleTitleA mother’s attitude towards her infant and child behaviour five years on Aust N Z J Psychiatry 37 748–755 Occurrence Handle14636392 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1440-1614.2003.01272.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • RM Brayden WA Altemeier MS Dietrich DD Tucker MJ Christensen J McLaughlin KB Sherrod (1993) ArticleTitleA prospective study of secondary prevention of child maltreatment J Pediatrics 122 511–516 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s3hslOmsw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IF Brockington (1996) Motherhood and mental health Oxford University Press Oxford 327–366

    Google Scholar 

  • IF Brockington E Brierley (1984) ArticleTitleRejection of a child by his mother, successfully treated after 3 years Br J Psychiatry 145 316–318 Occurrence Handle6478126 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2M%2FgtFSmsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1192/bjp.145.3.316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brockington IF, Chandra P, George S, Hofberg K, Lanczik MH, Loh CC, Niemelä P, Rondón M, Shi SX, Wainscott G (2006) The Birmingham Interview for Maternal Mental Health. Eyry Press (in press).

  • IF Brockington J Oates S George D Turner P Vostanis M Sullivan C Loh C Murdoch (2001) ArticleTitleA screening questionnaire for mother–infant bonding disorders Arch Womens Ment Health 3 133–140 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s007370170010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J Caffey (1946) ArticleTitleMultiple fractures in long bones of infants suffering from chronic subdural haematoma. Clinical and radiological features Am J Roentgenol 56 163–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark AC (1883) Clinical illustrations of puerperal insanity. Lancet ii: 97–99, 180–181 and 277–279.

  • H de Coghill (1941) ArticleTitleEmotional maladjustments from unplanned parenthood Virginia Medical Monthly 68 682–687

    Google Scholar 

  • PJ Cooper M Landman M Tomlinson C Molteno L Swartz L Murray (2002) ArticleTitleImpact of a mother–infant intervention in an indigent peri-urban South African context Br J Psychiatry 180 76–80 Occurrence Handle11772856 Occurrence Handle10.1192/bjp.180.1.76

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • PJ Cooper L Murray (1997) The impact of psychological treatments of postpartum depression on maternal mood and infant development L Murray PJ Cooper (Eds) Postpartum depression and child development Guildford Press New York

    Google Scholar 

  • EG Damato (2004) ArticleTitlePrenatal attachment and other correlates of postnatal maternal attachment to twins Adv Neonatal Care 4 274–291 Occurrence Handle15517522 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.adnc.2004.07.005

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • G Douglas (1968) ArticleTitleSome emotional disorders of the puerperium J Psychosoma Res 12 101–106 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaF1czltFCksw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0022-3999(68)90015-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Dozier KC Stovall KE Albus (1999) Attachment and psychopathology in adulthood J Cassidy PR Shaver (Eds) Handbook of attachment Guildford Press New York 497–519

    Google Scholar 

  • T Field N Grizzle F Scafidi S Abrams S Richardson C Kuhn S Schanberg (1996) ArticleTitleMassage therapy for infants of depressed mothers Infant Behav Devel 19 107–112 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0163-6383(96)90048-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MT Greenberg (1999) Attachment and psychopathology in childhood J Cassidy PR Shaver (Eds) Handbook of attachment Guildford Press New York 497–519

    Google Scholar 

  • AE Hipwell R Kumar (1996) ArticleTitleMaternal psychopathology and prediction of outcome based on mother–infant interaction ratings Br J Psychiatry 169 655–661 Occurrence Handle8932898 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2s%2Fos1yluw%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Kumar (1997) ArticleTitle‘Anybody’s child’: severe disorders of mother-to-infant bonding Br J Psychiatry 171 175–181 Occurrence Handle9337956 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2svnvFejtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1192/bjp.171.2.175

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann S (1997) Diagnostic classification 0–3. Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, Washington, 49–56.

  • H Luft (1964) ArticleTitleDie Wochenbettdepression. Klinik und pathogenetische Faktoren Nervenarzt 35 185–194 Occurrence Handle14182804 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaF2c7ktVyhsA%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SC McDonough (2000) Interaction guidance: an approach for difficult-to-engage-families CH Zeanah (Eds) Handbook of infant mental health Guildford Press New York

    Google Scholar 

  • E Muir M Lojkasek NJ Cohen (1999) Watch, wait and wonder: a manual describing a dyadic infant-led approach for problems in infancy and early childhood Hincks-Dellcrest Institute Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • L Murray A Hipwell R Hooper (1996) ArticleTitleThe cognitive development of 5-year-old children of postnatally depressed mothers J Child Psychol Psychiatry 37 927–935 Occurrence Handle9119940 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2s7itVCiug%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HW Newell (1934) ArticleTitleThe psychodynamics of maternal rejection Am J Orthopsychiatry 4 387–401 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1939-0025.1934.tb06302.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HW Newell (1936) ArticleTitleA further study of maternal rejection Am J Orthopsychiatry 6 576–589 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1939-0025.1936.tb05265.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K Onozawa V Glover D Adams N Modi R Kumar (2001) ArticleTitleInfant massage improves mother–infant interaction for mothers with postnatal depression J Affect Disord 63 201–207 Occurrence Handle11246096 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MzgsFegsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0165-0327(00)00198-1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H Oppenheim (1919) ArticleTitleÜber misopädie Z Ges Neurol Psychiatrie 45 1–18 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02871723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MD Ordway AM McIntire (1942) ArticleTitleMental disorders associated with pregnancy and the puerperium N Engl J Med 226 969–974 Occurrence Handle10.1056/NEJM194206182262501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C Reck A Hunt T Fuchs R Weiss A Noon E Möhler G Downing EZ Tronick C Mundt (2004) ArticleTitleInteractive regulation of affect in postpartum depressed mothers and their infants: an overview Psychopathology 37 272–280 Occurrence Handle15539778 Occurrence Handle10.1159/000081983

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Righetti-Veltema E Conne-Perréard A Bousquet Manzano (2002) ArticleTitlePostpartum depression and mother–infant relationship at 3 months old J Affect Disord 70 291–306 Occurrence Handle12128241 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0165-0327(01)00367-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • KS Robson HA Moss (1970) ArticleTitlePatterns and determinants of maternal attachment J Pediatrics 77 976–985 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE3M%2FlsF2guw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0022-3476(70)80080-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameRothamel of Fulda (1845) ArticleTitleEine Mutter führt durch allmählige Entziehung der Nahrungsmittel den Tod ihres ehelichen Kindes herbei Z Staatsarzneikunde 50 139–156

    Google Scholar 

  • EM Salariya JI Cater (1984) ArticleTitleMother–child relationship – FIRST score J Adv Nurs 9 589–595 Occurrence Handle6569879 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2M7gsFyhug%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A Sluckin (1993a) ArticleTitleMy baby doesn’t need me: understanding bonding failure Health Visitor 66 IssueID11 409–412 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2c7gt12rug%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A Sluckin (1993b) ArticleTitleBonding failure: a case study Health Visitor 66 IssueID11 413–414 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2c7gt12ruw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J Solomon C George (1999) The place of disorganization in attachment theory: linking classic observations with contemporary findings J Solomon C George (Eds) Attachment disorganization Guildford Press London

    Google Scholar 

  • DN Stern (1985) The interpersonal world of the infant Basic Books New York

    Google Scholar 

  • A Tardieu (1860) ArticleTitleĖtude medico-légale sur les sévices et mauvais traitements exercés sur des enfants Annales d’Hygiène 15 361–398

    Google Scholar 

  • E Tronick H Als L Adamson S Wise TB Braselton (1878) ArticleTitleThe infant’s response to entrapment between contradictory messages in face-to-face interaction J Am Acad Child Adoles Psychiatry 17 1–13 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0002-7138(09)62273-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D Weatherstone B Tableman (1989) Providing developmental guidance Infant mental health services: supporting competencies, reducing risks Michigan Department of Health Lansig

    Google Scholar 

  • J Wendland-Carro CA Piccinini WS Millar (1999) ArticleTitleThe role of an early intervention on enhancing the quality of mother–infant interaction Child Devel 70 713–721 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M3pslejtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-8624.00051

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameWorld Health Organization (1992) The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders SeriesTitleClinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines World Health Organization Geneva 279–281

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor emeritus, University of Birmingham, Bredenbury, U.K.

    I. F. Brockington

  2. Mothers and Babies Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital, Cashmere, Christchurch, New Zealand

    H. M. Aucamp

  3. Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.

    C. Fraser

Authors
  1. I. F. Brockington
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. M. Aucamp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Fraser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brockington, I., Aucamp, H. & Fraser, C. Severe disorders of the mother–infant relationship: definitions and frequency. Arch Womens Ment Health 9, 243–251 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-006-0133-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-006-0133-0

Search

Navigation